The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-09-01
No Hanging for Children.

No Hanging for Children.
Several weeks ago Governor Richard.
son set ons foot an investigation of the
circumstances IN the case of Axey Cherry,
the little negro girl, Il years Of age, con.
victed at the July term of court for
Barnwell County of the murder OF the
infant of Mr.. R. 81. West of Allendale
She was recommended to mercy by
the jury, the recommendation being
based entirely on the tender years OF the
prisoner.
The extreme youth, as we'll as the sex,
of the offender caused Che case to excite
more general interest and attention, even
far beyond the limits OF the State, than
any other in some time. Many news.
pagers at the North and else
where contained editorials expatiatiDg
on the horror of hanging one SO youn g
even when guilty of such horrible
crime. The Governor was likewise del
uged with communications from individ-
uals in widely separated States of the
Union, the writers of which begged for
mercy for this little negress.
all this was entirely unnecessary, as
the Governor was giving the case the
careful consideration he always does to
those in relation to the exercise of Ex-
:ecutive clemency, and had, as stated,
instituted an investigation Of the facts
long before even the reception of the
petition for Communication, which was not
sent in until about week ago.
Besides the petition Of the prisoner
herself, written. for her by her attorney,
a.. M. Owens, Esq, strong petition was
sent in asking Communication, signed by
the most prominent citizens of Barnwell
County and nearly all the county officers.
Judge Eudson, by whom, in accord
ance with the verdict of the jury, Axey
Cherry was sentenced to be hanged Sep.
tember 2Oth,.. wrote the Governor in
regard to the case: "One SO young ought
not to be hanged. She is little wretch
ofa villain and should be punished, but
not put to death. She should
not have full pardon"
The Solicitor, W. Perry Murphy, sent
in statement of the evidence, but did
not indorse the petition for Communication.
He stated his belief that the child has
ordinary intelligence and was guilty of
premeditated murder.
The Governor yesterday reached q
decision in the matter and on the score
of the tender years Of the offender alone
commuted her sentence to death to FIVE
years imprisonment in the penitentiary.
THE LETTERS RECEIVED
BY the Governor inrelation to the case
were, many of them, curious compost.
tions and came from all over the Union
and even from Canada, the States of
Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Iowa,
Missouri and the District Of Columbia
being represented.
Two of special interest we're alleged by
the writers to be from young girls Of ~
years of age, only little older than
Axey Cherry, who will not be 12 until
November next. In one of these, from
Oneida, N. Y, the writer said she
believed "negroes were half-Witted any
way and MOI accountable" Another
writing from Keokuk, Iowa, said. sit
seems awful for girl year younger,
younger, than myself to be hung even
though she committed a murder. Even
if she had killed my little brother I
would not want her to be hung. Oh,
please don't have her hung"
THE CRIME COMMITTED,
and for which the youthful murderess
will serve Eve years in prison, is thus
described by Solicitor Murphy, some
facts being given never before published:
"Axey was employed as nurse by one
Robert West. About three or four days
befo.e the time of the crime she left
Mr. West and returned to her fathers
family. The father brought her back
and on Sunday morning she was entrust.
ed with Mr.. Vests child, an infant of
about 8 or 10 months, as usual. Axey
took the child into the kitchen. It was
early in the morning and the family
were not yet up, nor was any person
about the yard. Some time afterwards a
negro named Brown came into the yard
to get water, and as he passed the kitchen
door playfnlly spoke to the baby, then
rollicking and laughing on the floor near
the door. Axey was then standing on q
keg or barrel in one corner of the room,
and was just in the act of<taking tin
box down (this;was afterwards ascertain
ed to contain concentrated lye), but as
soon as she heard Brown speak she put
the box back on the shelf and got off the
barrel. Brown got the water and
returned to his house, nobody being left
in the yard. About FIVE minutes after
this Axey got the lye down again and
this time administered it TO the child.
The screams Of the child reused the
family and the parents came out, still
undreseed, and Axey ran off with the
child. Mr.. West, however, run the girl
down, took the child from her and car
ried her to doctor for treatment" It
languished a few hours and died from the
effects of the lye.-C Columbia Register.
Halt OF the Army.
WHEELING, W. Va, August 26.-
Nearly $4,000 members of the Grand
Army of the Republic, Union Veteran
legion, Sons of Veterans, and regimental
oroo n;1ot;ona this fnrennon naraded the